(Myuuu, back again. Heee, only so many chaps left until the end. T.T Well! This is the chapter where Yami sees Teana again for the very last time. And then… chapter 19 will be the last one. Oh, and some people were confused about the existence of Nephthys. Nephthys never actually lives. She looks Zvallah's age, but she's actually about 14-16 months younger than him. Teana is pregnant with her right now. :3 But she doesn't know it, since it's only a couple of weeks into the pregnancy. Oh, and I was sick these past two days with le stomach flu that I caught from my brother. I doubt I would have finished this chapter without all that time off from school. xD; Anyway! Onto the chapter!)
Light the Flame
Chapter 17
Longing
"I'm leaving tomorrow, Yami," Asenath said, the sun barely peeking over the horizon. Yami stopped and stared at her.
"What? Leaving? Why?" he stammered. He crossed his arms before his chest angrily. "Where?"
Asenath chuckled.
"I'm going to Teana's homeland," she said, smiling sweetly. "Remember? You asked me to get her." Yami stared at her.
I don't remember that, he thought. He looked up at Asenath. "Seriously?" Asenath nodded.
"It's about time she joined you here," she said, smiling. "Besides," she said, winking, "You know what our mother used to always say. How our father could have never run the country so well without her interference now and again." Yami laughed with his sister, smiling to himself. He did, indeed, miss Teana dearly…
"It will take… it will take a few days, maybe even weeks to get back, you know," Asenath said hesitantly. Yami sighed and looked around the vast, open room they were in. He didn't see the hurt in her eyes.
"Well… be that as it may, I suppose," he said, sighing. "As long as she returns here safely…" Asenath swallowed hard.
"You know, Yami… If… If you really wanted to… I could bring her here temporarily," Asenath said. Yami's head snapped back to facing Asenath in an instant.
"What? What do you mean by that?" he asked suspiciously. Asenath fiddled with the black-and-silver ankh around her neck absently.
"If my hunches are correct, than I believe that you and your dear wife are indeed, as they say, 'soul mates'. And in that case… I could use my power to transfer her here, body and soul, in an instant. But only for awhile," she said in a warning tone, as if talking to a child. Yami pouted.
"I guess…" he said slowly. He was afraid for Teana's safety. Would it be safe for her? But what if she were sick or something? Would that hurt her?
"It's perfectly safe," Asenath assured him. "I just don't want to use up my energy keeping her here."
"Why not?" Yami asked as the two retreated into the far reaches of the palace. There was a room that had been created by Asenath herself, as a shrine to Osiris that only she was allowed to enter. She is the direct link to him, which is why she was thought of to be sacred.
This was also the place where she would perform her 'miracles'.
"Because," she said, a little bit of laugh to her voice, "I'm only allowed one 'miracle' per person, Brother." Yami smiled and realized what she meant. She had already done enough for him in his life.
"You wait over there," Asenath commanded, pointing down a long hallway. The hallway emptied out into the courtyard beneath his window. A place he had come to know and love throughout his life.
"Alright…" he muttered. Asenath stopped.
"Wait. I need something of yours for this to work," Asenath said. Yami blinked at her.
"Like…?" he asked, letting the question hang. Asenath thought about it for awhile.
"Like… like that!" she said, pointing to Yami's neckline. Yami pulled from beneath his tunic, his own ankh, identical to Asenath's, only made of gold.
"This? But…" Yami said slowly. He never took this ankh off. It was made for him when he was born; it was a symbol of his family, of his royalty… It was also the thing that Annuay blessed during his marriage ceremony. So now, it held part of his and Teana's soul inside.
Yami clapped his hands around it. Asenath stared hard at him.
"I need something that proves your love for her," she said softly. "And I need something that represents her." Yami reluctantly pulled the ankh off and handed it to Asenath. He glanced around, trying to think of something to symbolize Teana.
A symbol… oh! He thought, snapping his fingers. Outside in the courtyard, the mitsukai tree was in full bloom. Running as fast as he could, he jumped through the open windows, and hurried over to the large tree. He pulled a white blossom from it and brought it back to Asenath.
"Here," he said, smiling. "Now… bring Teana to me." Asenath nodded, and retreated inside the shrine.
Now he had to wait.
Yami was never good with waiting. He always became a nervous wreck while waiting for things. The last time he had felt this nervous with Teana was when Zvallah was born, nearly a year ago.
Yami sat on the old, cracked, stone bench, engulfed in the beautiful garden around him. He was clutching the stone so hard, his knuckles turned white. His arms were shaking, his breathing ragged. He felt as if all his energy had been drained.
He became lost in his own thoughts. Wonders and anticipations. It had only been a few weeks… what could have changed?
Soft footsteps sounded throughout the courtyard. Yami looked up, a gasp escaping from his lips.
There, across the courtyard, with his golden ankh in her hands and the white flower in her hair.
Teana.
Yami gasped and stared at her. He stood up, tightening his hands into fists.
Teana's hair was pulled back, her eyes shining with tears. Her dress was ragged and worn from working conditions. Her skin was lighter than usual; was she sick? But it didn't matter. Her golden eyes twinkled as she smiled at him, her arms shaking as she brought her hands to her mouth.
For a moment, they both just stood there, staring at each other. Then—
Teana broke into a run. Yami took a few steps forward, pulled the Puzzle off from around his neck, and embraced her into his arms. She flung herself onto him, her tears sliding down her face. She sniffed and just began to cry, holding onto him. Yami kissed the top of her head and held her warm body in his arms. She buried her face into his tunic, shivering and crying. Yami began to cry himself, so relieved that she was there.
The sun bathed them in light. They cast long shadows, stretching over the length of the courtyard. They just stood there, wrapped into each other, silently. Teana could feel Yami's tears moisten the top of her head. It was just so amazing. The fact that they were there, together, in each other's arms.
Teana's tears had stopped. Her heart had stopped pounding so heavily. She slowly pushed herself away from Yami, although her fingers still gripped the cloth, as though it were her last lifeline. She looked up at him, her lower lip quivering.
"I've missed you, so much," she whispered. A breeze picked up and blew around them, warming them with summer air. Yami pushed Teana's hair out of her face, placing a hand on her tear-stained cheek.
"Oh, my Teana…" Yami whispered. He couldn't say anything more. He was too numb from her presence.
Asenath leaned against the windowsill and stared out at the couple. She couldn't hear them, but she had a feeling that it wouldn't have mattered. They weren't speaking normal words.
Yami wrapped his arms around her once more, tugging her towards him. And they just stayed like this for awhile. Asenath smiled and watched them. She watched them fall to their knees. She saw Teana lift her head up to face his. And she saw her place her hands on either sides of his face, and kiss him.
"Thank Ra Asenath is so amazing," Teana whispered, curled up next to Yami. They were sitting on the ground of the courtyard, leaning against the wall. They were hidden by the lush, growing plants around them. Teana was curled beside him, Yami with his arm around her.
"I know," Yami agreed. "I don't understand how she does everything, but I'm grateful for it…" he trailed off. Teana sighed contentedly.
"Y'know, when I come here for real," Teana started, smiling to herself, "We'll probably have to get married again." Yami closed his eyes and smiled.
"I know. But I look forward to it. Egyptian weddings are always grand and amazing, Teana." Yami put his hand on her cheek. Teana smiled.
"I was wondering just the other day what it would be like if this had never happened," she said softly. She interlocked her fingers with his. Yami opened his eyes. A thought had just crossed his mind.
Aklia.
Yam subconsciously tightened the grip he held on her hand. Teana looked up at her husband.
"What is it, Yami?" she asked, staring at him. Yami shook his head.
"It's… I just remembered… About…" he trailed off. Aklia. He had forgotten all about her. What had happened to her, he wondered. Was she alright? Was she still alive? Did she get married to someone else?
"About…?" Teana asked. Yami sighed.
"…Before I met you… I was engaged," he said slowly. "I'd been engaged since I was very young. To a noble's daughter from another city… Named Aklia." Teana's breath caught in her throat.
"Aklia? That was her name?" Teana said gently. She leaned against him again. "No one ever knew what her name was."
"Aklia… she was a good friend of mine," he said. "But… I just didn't return the feelings she had for me. So… What I did was…" Yami's eyes widened.
Wait a minute—He glanced over to where he had laid the Puzzle. He grabbed it in his hands, forcing Teana to sit up as he moved.
"What happened?" she asked, alarmed. Yami stared at the Puzzle in shock.
"It was… It was the Puzzle," he muttered.
"What was?" Teana asked, getting exasperated. Yami turned to her.
"Right before I met you, I said a prayer to the gods. I said, 'bring me someone I can love. And love for me.' But… I think the Puzzle might have answered me back." Teana stared at him. How could he have made that connection?
"What?" Teana asked. In her mind, it didn't make any sense. Yami stared at the Puzzle.
"Hear me out. Asenath once told me that the Puzzle would decide my fate. But my fate wouldn't have been decided until I was married. My fate was decided when I fell in love with you, Teana." He stared at the Puzzle. "This… this thing… must have brought me to you."
"What'd it do, chose a random person off the street!" Teana cried. She got onto her knees and held onto his arm. "Are you sure this is what happened? Please, Yami. Atemu. Do you honestly think that thing did anything?"
"…I don't know," he answered finally. For some reason, something was rocketing in the back of his head. Something he should know. Something he should recognize.
But he didn't know what it was. They sat for a moment, Teana holding onto Yami's arm.
"…you prayed that you could have someone to love?" she whispered. Yami nodded.
"Yeah, I said I wanted to love someone like Jono did." Teana giggled.
"Like Jono did?"
"Yeah, because he loved Maia so much… I was jealous…." He looked down at the Puzzle again. Something was rocketing off in the back of his mind. What was it!
Then—it hit him.
Jono has a forbidden romance. He wished for something 'like Jono'. What if… what if the gods and the Puzzle took him seriously!
"Teana… I think I figured it out," he said, blinking. He turned to her, excited. "I think I understand now!"
"Why? What happened now?" she asked. Yami looked at the Puzzle, then at her.
"I prayed for a romance 'like Jono's'. What I meant was, I wanted to love and care for someone like Jono did. But I think… I think the gods took me seriously. So they brought me to someone, someone I would most likely never be allowed to marry in our religion. Someone who would make this romance completely forbidden."
"So they brought me to you." Teana stared at him with wide, golden eyes. It was true; their romance was uncommon. A prince falling in love with a servant-girl was one thing, but an Egyptian prince falling in love with a servant girl who wasn't even Egyptian – she was Sudani.
It was completely unheard of.
"Oh… Oh my God…" Teana whispered. "You're right." The couple stared at each other.
Then, Teana began to laugh. She just started giggling, then fell into a full-out, hearty laugh, that curled out of her throat. She leaned against Yami and closed her eyes, nuzzling her face into his chest. He just put his arms around her.
"It doesn't matter," she whispered. "I love you…" Yami buried his face into her hair. She smelled sweet, like fruit.
"Teana…" Yami said slowly, whispering to her. He sighed deeply. He had to tell her something… important. He ran his hands through her hair, and they landed on her shoulders and back. She moaned as a reply. "I… have to tell you something." Teana opened her eyes and looked up at him. He was looking at the ground beside him, apparently lost in thought.
"What is it?" she asked. "…what's wrong?"
"It… wasn't bad, or anything," he said slowly. "And nothing happened. But… I just feel like… you should know." Teana stared at him, her jaw dropping a little bit.
"Tell me what, Yami? Tell me what? Tell me!" she said, hanging onto his shoulders. Yami stared down at her longing face. Her beautiful eyes. They were full of fear.
She thinks it's bad… he thought. He pulled her face towards his and placed his lips upon hers. She closed her eyes and tightened her grip on his tunic. She was kneeling in his lap, her hands on his chest. He pulled away from her and whispered into her ear…
Yami just wanted comfort. He was sitting with his knees to his chest, staring at the dark sky above him. He was still jittery from the battles; his head ached a bit in the back. He was alone outside. He was partially hidden by the tall, beautiful plants his mother had spent so much time planting and caring for.
His thoughts rounded to Teana. He sighed. She would most likely never speak to him ever again. Especially, not with what he did. She completely hated the fact that he lied to her about who he really was.
Yami put his head in his hands and closed his eyes.
"Teana…" he whispered. The darkness was consuming…
"Atemu?" a voice called. Yami looked up.
Aklia was approaching him. She was wearing a long, white skirt that reached her feet, and a white cloth tied around her breast. Her nighttime clothes. Yami sighed inwardly.
Aklia sat beside him on the stone.
"I can't sleep," she said in a soft voice. Yami didn't respond. She was the last person he wanted to see right now. But at the same time… Yami sighed. This was his future wife; they were going to be married in only two weeks.
Aklia pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She stared up at the stars, her black hair billowing over her shoulders. She turned to Yami and closed her eyes.
For some reason… Yami didn't want to tell her off. She wasn't speaking; she wasn't prodding at him. She wasn't being as annoying as he usually thought her to be.
"Aklia…" Yami said slowly, pushing her hair away from her face. He placed one hand on the side of her face, on her soft cheek. She closed her amber eyes and sighed deeply. Suddenly, Yami found her against his chest, holding onto him like he was her last lifeline. She nuzzled his neck and placed soft kisses on his chin.
For some reason… when they were like this, sitting out in the darkness, without all the regality… It seemed much more real. Yami almost felt as if he could become used to having Aklia as a wife. It would be strange at first; but he supposed he would learn to grow on her.
As he kissed her, it didn't even occur to him that his heart pined for Teana. He just thought "I can't have Teana… but I can have her."
His thoughts were jumbled, but his actions were clear. For some reason, his mind was racing. He pulled away from it, but didn't try to stop it from happening again. He just kissed Aklia again, with more passion this time. She turned her head and gripped his tunic, sliding her hands onto his shoulders.
Slowly, Yami pushed her down against the stone, so he was leaning on top of her. She just kissed him again, her fingers curled onto the back of his neck. He placed his hand on her side, where her skin was showing. Yami pulled away from her and nuzzled her neck instead.
What was he doing? Somehow, he found himself extremely attracted to Aklia at the moment. He just wanted her. Even though, at the same time, he wanted Teana as well.
Aklia leaned her head back. She then pushed herself up a bit and kissed his lips, adding a little tongue, too. Yami turned his head and brought her into himself. He had both his hands on either side of her body, caressing her.
From up above, someone could see them. Asenath was a few floors up and she happened to catch a glimpse of some movement down below as she passed the window. She cocked her head to the side and stared down at them.
"Yami…" she said in a warning tone. "Be careful. Don't do anything you'll regret, you fool…" She sighed. If he…if he had sex with her down there… it could mean horrible things.
She breathed in slowly. He wouldn't do something so foolish, she was sure. Aklia wouldn't let him.
She was right. Although Yami was still on top of her, it looked like they were talking. With kissing in between. Or more like kissing with talking in between.
Meh
She sighed. "I suppose they ought to get used to that kind of behavior…"
Yami was nose-to-nose with his fiancé. She smiled at him and closed her eyes.
"I love you," she whispered. Yami opened his eyes to face her. He wanted so badly… he didn't want to just have to love her. He wanted her so badly now. For some reason…
"I know," was his reply.
Asenath couldn't believe the message she received. Teana would now have an even shorter time here, but… She couldn't refuse such a plea.
"Atemuuuu!" Asenath called, sticking her head out the window. Yami came from the opposite side of the courtyard, Teana in toe.
"Asenath," he breathed. "What is it?" Teana grabbed his hand and bit her lip.
Asenath sighed.
"You have a visitor," she explained. A young woman stepped out from behind her. Her short black hair was pulled back, and the clothes she was wearing were fit for a queen.
…or the daughter of a wealthy noble…
Yami stared at her. For a second, he had no idea who she was. Then…
"Ak… Aklia?" he stammered. "Is… is that you?" The young woman smiled at him, nodding slowly. Yami stared in shock. He could barely recognize her. It looked nothing like her at all.
But then… he began to see it. He saw the playful eyes that used to haunt him all the time. He saw the smiling face. She was the same height she used to be, too. She was exactly the same… yet different.
"Aklia," he said slowly. Aklia just took a step forward. Yami let go of Teana's hand and walked up to Aklia. Teana folded her hands and watched from the side, coughing a little. She wiped her head with the back of her hand, sweat beading down her forehead. She felt a little dizzy…
"Hello, Lady Aklia," Yami said, smiling at his old friend. Aklia sighed. "What are you doing here?"
"I… I just wanted to see this place again," she said slowly. She glanced around Yami to see the elegant courtyard. She noticed Teana, but pretended not to. She knew it was her. The servant-girl that he had run off with. Leaving her in despair, always constantly wondering if he were alive.
"I'm so glad you're home again," she said, smiling. "When… I thought you had died."
"You and everyone else alike, Aklia," Yami said, chuckling a little. Aklia smiled reluctantly. All she felt was malice for Teana. Although she also felt bad that she hated the woman that he loved, it hurt her that it wasn't her that he loved – it was Teana. And she was probably the Queen, too.
…although she isn't dressed like one… her mind pressed. She didn't dwell on the matter.
Yami wasn't sure what to do. It was certainly… awkward to be in his position. So he did what anyone would do.
"Teana…" he said slowly. "Come over here for a moment." Teana walked forwards, her hands folded in her lap. She was almost afraid to look at Aklia. She knew Aklia must be fuming, for she took Yami away from her.
"Aklia… this is Teana, my… wife," he said, smiling. Aklia smiled at the girl. Teana breathed a sigh of relief.
"Miss Teana," Aklia said, walking over to her. She took the girl's hand in her own. "Please… whatever you do… love him," she said, so only Teana could hear. "Love him and live with him. Be his partner, his companion. That was to be my job, but I'm sure that, if he's with someone… someone he loves… it will be much easier. I love him," she said, tears in her eyes, her hands shaking. "I always have. And… if he loves you… you have to be sure that you love him back." With that, she brought Teana's hand to her lips and kissed it. "…My Lady, or… more like the future Lady of this land." She backed away and nodded to Yami.
"Take care of her. And of yourself," she said, smiling. Although her eyes were sad, and her heart still held malice for Teana, she felt at ease. Somewhat, anyway, with her life.
Asenath watched from a distance. She gave a hearty sigh and closed her eyes.
"How come I had no idea you were coming?" Yami asked. "Didn't you send a letter?" Aklia just smiled at him and glanced at Asenath. Asenath walked over and placed her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Miss Aklia… I can assist you," she said, pulling the girl away from Yami. Aklia smiled at Yami and closed her eyes, disappearing with Asenath into the depths of the palace.
"That was…" he trailed off, not sure of what it was. Yami just stared after the two as they disappeared from sight.
Teana slid her arms in between Yami's and laid her head on his arm.
"Where did she come from?" she asked hesitantly. "She just… came out of nowhere."
"I know," Yami said. "It is kind of unnerving…" He gulped. Had she overhead him telling Teana their story?
"Did you… did you ever love her?" Teana asked slowly. Yami blinked and smiled at her.
"Ever love her… I don't think so, Teana. I mean… when we were younger… She was my friend. But suddenly… it became clear that one day, she would be more than just one of my friends. And… I didn't love her like that. But then, I got you," he said, placing a hand on her cheek. Teana leaned up and kissed his cheek, smiling brightly.
"I love you…" she whispered to him.
"Yami! Teana!" a voice said, breaking them apart. Teana turned around and Yami looked up.
"Yes?" they both said simultaneously. Asenath sighed. She came around the corner and leaned in the window.
"I'm sorry, Teana, but I have no more energy left. You have to go back now." Teana lowered her eyes to the ground and nodded.
"Alright…"
"Don't worry," Asenath said, straining to keep her voice from breaking. "You'll be back here soon, no doubt." Teana nodded and turned back to Yami.
"We'll be together again soon," Yami said to her, kissing her forehead. Teana smiled and turned away, walking towards Asenath.
Yami sighed and closed his eyes, not wanting to watch her leave again.
Asenath knew she had to say something. Her heart was almost beating out of her chest, she was so nervous and afraid. She was afraid that she would completely ruin everything, and spill all she knew to her brother. If she did…
…If she did…
She shook her head. She would refuse to make that mistake again.
"Y-Yami!" she called, running over to him. Yami turned and saw her, and smiled. It was a sad, forlorn kind of smile, one that someone would give if… If…
Asenath stared at him momentarily.
Does he know! Asenath's thoughts became panicked and jumbled. Yami beckoned her over to where he was sitting in the center of the throne room. The dying sun bounced on the walls and over their bodies, washing them in red light.
"Yami," Asenath asked, kneeling beside him. "What's wrong?"
At first, Yami didn't answer. He just closed his eyes and looked the other way. Asenath stared at him and waited for him to answer.
"Well? What is it?" she asked. Yami sighed.
"…There is something," he said slowly, "That you haven't been telling me." Asenath stared at him in confusion and horror.
"L-like what?" she stammered, not easily hiding her fear from her brother. Yami stared at her with sturdy eyes.
"Your visions," he said. "I know that you saw something once. Something that terrified you, Asenath. And not many things completely terrify you like that vision did. I know that for a fact. I was in the room when it happened," he stressed. Asenath didn't reply. "I just… want to know. What… what did you see, that made you so afraid?" Asenath looked away. She glanced up at the tall windows and stared out them.
"I'm leaving tomorrow night," she said. She sighed. "I… I can't tell you. Tomorrow night… if I leave late enough… I can tell you." She placed her hand on his cheek. "But… until then, I can't say a word. I'm sorry… Atemu." She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his forehead. "I believe that, if you were to know before I thought you were ready, that you wouldn't take it like a Pharaoh should." Yami just looked up at her.
"If… you say so," he said, sighing. He looked up at her. "When you said that Teana and I would be reunited again… soon… you sounded unsure of yourself. Why was that?" he asked. Asenath stared at him. She leaned close to him and put both hands on either sides of his face.
"Because… because that's not true," she whispered to him, her eyes glinting in the dying sun. "It was a lie."
Man… all the good stuff is gonna happen next chappu, peoples. Just like… 2 more chaps to go! Technically one, since the last one is an epilogue type thing. I'm still trying to figure out what will happen in chapter 18… anyway. Next Chapter: "Amazing Grace"…As Asenath leaves to "get Teana", as she puts it, she reflects and thinks about what is about to happen in Kemet… and what the country will be like when she returns… And what is really happening to Teana. Oh, and also: I actually put my s/n online:everyone faints: yes. My AIM name is in my profile, if you would like to contact me! No, not my email, because I still am, and always will, be paranoid about that. Anyway...
Shibby-One
